OVERVIEW OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY:

 

Biotechnology involves the application of biological knowledge and techniques to produce substances and services beneficial to agriculture, the environment, industry and medicine.

                                                      

  MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY:

 

An ongoing continuum of breakthroughs overcoming constraints of conventional biotechnologies. Included are genetic fingerprinting and genetic modification of micro organisms, plants and animals.

           

GENETIC MODIFICATION

 

Often referred to as recombinant DNA technology, involves combining valuable genetic material from different sources using the more precise techniques of genetic modification. In this way organisms are developed which express unique, novel traits. By making manipulations more precise and outcomes more certain, there is decrease in risk of producing organisms/substances with unexpected traits/characteristics.

 

EXAMPLES OF GENETIC MODIFICATION

 

HUMAN HEALTH PRODUCTS

 

*        Insulin (since 1982)                                          

*        Erythropoietin

*        Polio vaccine

*        Hepatitis B vaccine

*        Interferons

*        Human growth hormone

*        Many more, hundreds in the pipeline                                                             

 

Recent developments

 

*          Injecting specific naked DNA into heart tissue to stimulate regeneration of 

            damaged heart  valve tissue

*              Malaria vaccine produced in mice

*              Genomics

 

GLOBAL GENE THERAPY TRIALS (SCIENCE 294:1638, 2001)

 

Retrovirus                                          157

Adenovirus                                        132

Pox Virus                                           35

AA virus                                               7

Lipojection                                        57

Naked DNA                                       47

RNA transfer                                      5

Gene gun                                           4

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

FOOD PROCESSING

 

*    Chymosin enzyme to produce cheese

*        Production of amino acids

*        Artificial sweetener

*        GM yeast in bread baking (UK 1996)

*        Range of GM enzymes licensed for food processing – bread, fish, egg, cake,  

             meat, biscuits, soft drinks etc.

*        Bio-transformation of carbohydrates

 

Recent developments

 

*            GM yeasts with anti-microbial traits

*                    GM yeasts with improved transformation

 

                                                                                

ANIMALS

 

*        Cloning of sheep, goats, cattle

*        Animals modified to produce special milk

 

Recent developments

 

*    Experimental GM pig which has phytase to  digest phosphorous, thereby reducing

      pollution

*        Experimental GM pig with transplant rejection factor removed.

*        Production of spider silk (an ultra-strong material that can be used in a variety of  

            industrial products i.e. sutures and bullet proof vest) from genetically engineered          

            goats

 

 

CROP PLANTS

*     Insect resistant crops using bacterial gene  (maize, cotton, sweet corn, potato etc.)

*        Herbicide tolerant crops having bacterial gene (Soybean, maize, cotton, canola)

*        Virus resistant crops (squash, papaya, potato)

*        Extended shelf life (tomato)

*        Altered oil composition (soybeans, canola)

*        Seedless sweet taste pepper.

 

2001 Global status of GM crops

 

*     52,6 million ha, up 19% from 2000

*        Increase 30-fold from 1996 (1.7 million) to 2001

*        One quarter of area grown in developing countries

*        GM soybean makes up 63% of global area, maize 19%, cotton 13%, canola 5%.

*        Dominant trait is herbicide tolerance (77%), followed by insect resistance (15%) and 

            both  traits (8%)

*        Cumulative area since 1996: 175 million ha.

 

Recent developments

 

*     Virus resistant sweet potato, cassava

*        Rice with vitamin A (carotene,) reduced allergen and increased iron content

*        Wheat with gluten allergen removed

*        Herbicide tolerant wheat

*        Banana containing vaccine

*        Extended shelf life peanut

 

INDUSTRIAL MICROBES

 

*    Mining /ore extraction

*    Oil spill removal

*    Biocatalysts.

*    Modified lignin in paper pulp trees – making lignin easier to remove from

        cellulose.

ENVIRONMENT

*     Genetically modified enzymes now replace harsh chemicals used in industrial

       processes.

*        GMO now used to remove sulphur from fossil fuels and thus reduce sulphur

              pollution.